RNC bows out of Commission on Presidential Debates

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has announced its intent to sever ties with the Commission on Presidential Debates. According to Axios, the RNC unanimously voted to withdraw from participating in presidential debates.

On Thursday, April 14, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel released a statement criticizing the commission. She described it as "biased" and claimed the commission refuses to embrace reforms for "fair debates."

"The Commission on Presidential Debates is biased and has refused to enact simple and commonsense reforms to help ensure fair debates including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage," RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said in a press release.

She added, "Today, the RNC voted to withdraw from the biased CPD, and we are going to find newer, better debate platforms to ensure that future nominees are not forced to go through the biased CPD in order to make their case to the American people.

"Debates are an important part of the democratic process, and the RNC is committed to free and fair debates."

The RNC's withdrawal comes after years of complaints about the non-profit commission which they have argued leans favorably toward the Democratic Party. Back in January, The New York Times reported on the RNC's threats to block its candidates from participating in the future presidential debates.

At the time, The NY Times reported:

"Republican committee officials alerted the debate commission to their plans in a letter sent on Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. If the change goes forward, it would be one of the most substantial shifts in how presidential and vice-presidential debates have been conducted since the commission began organizing debates more than 30 years ago."